Not all TVs that can display high dynamic range (HDR) content actually serve it well. Some inexpensive models can accept HDR signals, but the limitations of their LCD panels means the picture they put out doesn't look much better than non-HDR video. Vizio's M-series shows that you can get an HDR-worthy picture without spending too much. The 65-inch $1,199.99 M65-E0 we tested is a bit too pricey to really be considered a budget model, but it offers an excellent value considering its picture quality and features, earning it our Editors' Choice.

Design

The M65's design is simple without looking too plain. The screen is framed by a flat, matte black bezel measuring 0.6 inches on the top and sides, and 0.8 inches on the bottom. The sides of the bezel are capped with lines of textured, silver-colored metal that add a subtle bit of style. The TV sits on two widely placed V-shaped metal feet. Like all models with separate feet for a stand, make sure the surface on which you place it is large enough to hold both at once, especially since the feet on the M65 are located so close to the edges.

Besides the power connector on the right side, all connections and controls are located on the left side of the back of the M65. An HDMI port, two USB ports, and a composite video input with five RCA connectors face left, while three more HDMI ports, an Ethernet port, and optical and stereo RCA audio outputs face down. A small row of flat buttons for Power, Input, and Volume Up/Down sit in front of the ports, closer to the left edge of the TV.

After using the same blocky, rectangular remotes for years before experimenting with minimalist designs and remote-free TVs with its SmartCast platform, Vizio has finally rolled out a new, full-featured wand. It's slimmer than the button-filled bricks of previous models, but has all of the controls you need to navigate the M65's menus.

The remote is a narrow 6.7-by-1.8-inch (HW) curved black controller with a large, square-shaped navigation pad and recessed OK/Play/Pause button located right under the thumb. Power, Input, and six dedicated service buttons for Amazon, Crackle, iHeartRadio, Netflix, Vudu, and Xumo sit above the navigation pad. Volume and channel rockers and a number pad sit below the navigation pad. It's a functional, comfortable design with enough distinct tactile elements that you can easily use it without looking at it.

SmartCast

Vizio has further developed its SmartCast platform to function more like a complete connected TV interface and not just a built-in Google Chromecast. Pressing the Vizio logo brings up the new SmartCast home screen, which features a prominent row of tiles with suggested content and a smaller row of icons for specific apps and services.

Currently, only ten apps are available through the SmartCast screen: Amazon, Crackle, FandangoNOW, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Netflix, PlutoTV, Vudu, and Xumo, plus a USB icon for playing media stored on a USB drive plugged into the TV. The new remote and SmartCast interface also put full picture controls and system options back on the screen, so you no longer need to use your mobile device to change settings on the TV.

YouTube is notably missing from the selection, along with any form of app store. This is less of a drawback than it initially seems, since you can still treat the M65 as if it had a Chromecast plugged into it thanks to SmartCast, which means you can use your phone or tablet to stream any Google Cast-compatible content to the TV, or Chrome tabs from a PC or Mac, or screen-mirror any recent Android device. Ultimately, the SmartCast interface feels like a series of user-friendly design concessions more than a comprehensive connected service platform, but between the on-screen menus and Google Cast support, it's more than enough.

In Calibrated picture mode with the color temperature set to the warmest preset (Normal), the M65 showed a respectable peak brightness of 287.54cd/m2 on a full-screen white field, our standard peak brightness test for LED-backlit TVs. It also showed an excellent black level of 0.02cd/m2 when measuring a black section of the screen while another section is brightly lit for A contrast ratio of 14,376:1. This is very good contrast for any LED TV. The excellent TCL 55P607 outshines it on both contrast (25,393:1) and color range, but it's limited to 55 inches. If you want better contrast, you'll need to spend much more for a Samsung MU9000-series.

The M65 shows the potential to get wildly bright depending on the situation, thanks to its LED backlighting array that can adjust how much power is sent to a particular section of the screen for illumination. Using the Murideo generator to produce a pure white rectangle on 10 percent of the screen while leaving the rest black, and forcing the TV into high dynamic range (HDR) mode, I measured an incredible 852.06cd/m2 peak brightness, the highest we've seen in testing. This is impressive, but for the most fair and consistent comparison with other TVs, the official brightness we record is based on the full-field pattern.

The M65 can show an impressive color range when displaying high dynamic range (HDR) content. The above charts show Rec.709 color levels as boxes and measured color levels as dots. The left chart shows the Calibrated picture mode, while the right shows the Standard mode at the warmest color temperature preset. The Calibrated mode is designed for standard dynamic range content, and so tamps down on the color range to meet Rec.709 levels. It's largely successful, though reds are undersaturated and yellows skew a bit green. The Standard mode doesn't limit color range, and displays an impressively wide reach for greens and slightly wider selection of reds, while keeping colors accurate. The TCL 55P607 and LeEco Super4 series both offer better color, but the former is much more limited in size options and the latter has inferior contrast. If you really want the best color and the best contrast, you'll have to shell out for an OLED TV, like the LG OLEDC7P series.

HDR Viewing Experience

The BBC's Planet Earth II on Ultra HD Blu-ray looks excellent on the M65. Sunlight appears warm and natural, and the greens and blues of the plants and water of the "Islands" episode are vibrant without appearing oversaturated. Fine details like the texture of sloth fur in both shade and direct sunlight are crisp, without anything appearing washed out or muddy.

The M65's strong contrast is apparent in the burning lab fight in Deadpool. The yellows and oranges of the flame are bright and natural, while shadows in the same shot retain plenty of detail without appearing washed-out. In other parts of the film, the red of Deadpool's costume looks well-saturated and accurate.

Pacific Rim looks excellent on the M65, with the strong contrast and wide color reach in HDR complementing the dark, rainy fights. The neon signs of the city and the glowing energy of the kaiju are bright and vibrant, and shadow details like pilot armor and the unilluminated kaiju body parts come through clearly.

Input Lag and Power Consumption

Input lag is the amount of time between when a TV receives a signal and the screen updates. In Calibrated mode, the M65 shows a mediocre 42.2ms input lag. The Computer picture mode only slightly reduces this to 39ms. Both the TCL P-series and S-series, along with the much more expensive LG OLEDC7P series, have input lag of half that or less. The 40ms range is still acceptable for most gaming, but if you're dedicated and competitive, or focus on timing-heavy genres like fighters, our list of the best TVs for gaming offers some alternatives.

Under normal viewing conditions, the M65 consumes 151 watts in the brighter Calibrated picture mode and 91 watts in the Calibrated (Dark) picture mode, which dims the screen but remains very watchable for low-light settings. This is in line with other 65-inch TVs; the Vizio D65-E0 uses 136 and 70 watts in the same modes, but its panel isn't as bright and it doesn't support HDR with wide color gamut.

Conclusions

The Vizio M-series offers very solid performance and a strong selection of connected features for a reasonable price. At $1,200 for the 65-inch M65 we tested, it's a bit pricier than low-end TVs like the TCL S-series or Vizio's own D-series, but the far superior picture easily makes up for the premium. It doesn't quite hit the incredible value proposition of TCL's 55-inch 55P607, but since the 50- and 65-inch models in that line are no longer available, Vizio currently offers the best choice for screen sizes in this price range. We recommend the M-series as a solid step up for anyone looking for a relatively affordable, HDR-compatible TV that truly does justice to HDR content, and give it our Editors' Choice.

Other VIZIO TVs

Will Greenwald has been covering consumer technology for a decade, and has served on the editorial staffs of CNET.com, Sound & Vision, and Maximum PC. His work and analysis has been seen in GamePro, Tested.com, Geek.com, and several other publications. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PC Labs as the in-house home entertainment expert, reviewing TVs, media hubs, speakers, headphones, and gaming accessories. Will is also an ISF Level II-certified TV calibrator, which ensures the thoroughness and accuracy of all PCMag TV reviews…. More »

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